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Have a look inside our laboratory.

Our laboratory manager and qualified analyst Julia Simpson, explains what we look for when testing the seeds.

We first sow a batch of 100 seeds to get a germination level out of 100%.

In this video, we are testing Runner Bean "Lady Di". We don't just check for germination, we check the whole seedlings. Sometimes a seed can germinate, but it doesn't develop properly. The roots and shoots are checked to see if they are strong enough to grow on and develop into a full size, healthy plant.

If the leaves haven't developed at the same rate as the stem, or the root system hasn't developed correctly, then these seedlings fail the germination test. If 13 seedlings out of the 100 tested pass, then the germination rate for this batch is 87%.